THE WHAU TREE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 23 July 1929, Page 8

THE WHAU TREE

WORLD'S LIGHTEST WOOD NATIVE 01' NEW ZEALAND EXTINCT IN WILD STATE An interesting native. 'New Zealand tree or shrub, the whan, has recently been introduced into New-South Wales by Mr A. J- Vogan. who has contributed an article on the shrub in the ciir-

mil number of a Sydney periodical devoted iu gardening.' Seeds of the shrub wire given tii Mr Vogan by tho late Mr ,'l. \V. I'oynlon, K.M.. (if Auckland, and :i scientific horticulturist, Mr VV. Al lii.'ld, succeeded in growing plants from these ill Sydney, homo (if these, plants have been presented to nlhcr botanists in the Slate. The. whan, or entclia arborescens, is a small tree which is now practically extinct in its native state in New Zealand, although at one lime it was fairly plentiful, particularly at New Lynn, near I lie Whan river, which is supposed to take its name. from I he shrub. For many years it has not boon reon in il.s wild slate on the, mainland, although there are still a number (o bo found on Kawau Island, mostly in sheltered inlets, while Ihere are plants growing in a number of Auckland gardens There are several young trees in the. grounds of I ho Auek-

land University College. II is comparatively easy I" grow. lI.WAiiES 01' LIVESTOCK The chief cause for il.s disappearance has been the ravages of horses and cullie, the large, light green leaves pvoving an attraction fur animals. It produces small fruit or homes, but these are protected by short bristles, which are, however, not strong. The tree is also unable to withstand heavy frosts. The. maximum height attained by the tree is about 20f1., Ihe diameter of the trunk varying from sin to Oin, although il may attain as great as 12ili. The tree produces a large number of brunches, commencing near the ground, and in September is euvered with white (lowers, similar lo those of the luanuka, bill somewhat larger. HALF AS LIGUT AS CORK The chief feature of the tree is the ligliucss of I lie wood, which is half as ligllt as cork, and is among the lightest woods in the, world.. A log 4ft long with a. diameter of 9iu can easily be lifted with one. hand. The main use for the tree among the Maoris was for floats for fishing nets, the wood not becoming waterlogged quickly. The wood is not wvy endurable, but it is possible that with treatment it could be made of much greater use. It has been suggested it could lie utilised in the manufacture of life-belts and other life-saving~apparatus, but the small supply nt present available prohibits to some extent tlnj possibility of its use in commerce. According to the article in the Sydney magazine the name comes from an old Polynesian word meaning "to bind," while Mr YV. S. Campbell, a horticulture authority, is of the opinion that the treo is a cousin of the mallow family, which includes tho cotton tree and hibiscus, which is also connected with the European lime or linden. It is, however, the only representative of its genus, belonging to an era when New Zealand extended to the tropics, or formed a part of a. vast area of which to-day it is the only remnant.